Aunt Irene's Perogies

These are not your typical perogies. These are attached to some good memories of my Aunt Irene who was born in Slovakia and came over to Canada with her family. My dad is the youngest of the family, he was born here in Canada. My Aunt would invite us over for her yummy sweet cottage cheese and prune perogies...so yummy. My dear Aunt has passed on now but I'm hoping I can pass this food tradition along in my own family.  If you wanted you could use the dough to make the traditional potato filling ones.

Perogy Dough

3 cups flour

1 cup water

3 Tbsp oil

1 egg

1 tsp salt

Mix all together to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface and knead a few times. Try not to handle too much or the dough will go stiff. Roll out all the dough and cut into rounds. Fill with your favorite filling. Put a small amount of water on one edge and seal by folding one side to the other. (don't get too wet or it won't seal well) Pinch edge tight. If you use both fillings you will need to double the recipe. 

My cat Chiko looking at the perogies while I get them ready to freeze. 

Prune Filling

3 cups prunes, stems removed and chopped

2 tbsp sugar

1/2 cup water

Cook on medium/high heat until prunes are mushy, cool. 

Sweet Cottage Cheese Filling

Small bag or container of dry cottage cheese

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

Blend with mixer until somewhat smooth. Shouldn't be runny. 

Perogy Coating (Brown Betty)

1 cup Cream of Wheat

1/8 cup oil

1 cup water

1/4-1/3 cup sugar

Mix Cream of Wheat and oil in a frying pan.  Cook on medium-high heat until golden brown. Add 1 cup of water and stir quickly (watch out because it will sizzle up from the heat). Once water is all stirred in add the sugar and stir again until it is grainy. Cool stirring a few times as it cools. 

To cook the perogies .. add water and some salt to a medium pot and bring to a boil. Carefully add perogies one at a time. Don't overcrowd the pot too much and turn to med-high heat. They tend to stick on the bottom of the pan so make sure you stir them once in a while. They are usually done when they start to float on the top of the water.  When done use a slotted spoon and scoop each one up and add them to the perogy coating and turn to coat.  

From my family to yours ..Hope you enjoy!